Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
2,218 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★ - 1.5K ratingsLocked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Lakers locker room and all over the NBA. The Locked On Lakers podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
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Episodes
Anthony Davis, LeBron James, New Starting Lineup Lead Lakers to Critical 112-105 win over Thunder
January 16, 2024 08:03 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThe Lakers badly needed a win after absorbing a few tough losses, and Monday night played one of their better games of the season, beating Oklahoma City 112-105. Anthony Davis (27/15/5) and LeBron James (25/6/5) led a balanced and efficient Lakers attack (six players in double figures, 44-84 from the floor). But what got people's attention first and foremost? Another new lineup for the Lakers. Darvin Ham, seeking to put as much playmaking around James and Davis, went with D'Angelo Russell a...
Bonus Pod: LeBron James-less Lakers Lose 132-125 To Jazz, Fall to 11th in the Western Conference
January 14, 2024 06:41 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBThe Lakers, once again, came into Saturday's game in Utah (the hottest team in the NBA) with disruption to the lineup. LeBron James sat with the ankle problem that's been bothering him all year. Rui Hachimura was back... but on a minutes restriction. Once the game started, Cam Reddish once again had to leave early, playing only 11 minutes. Continuity, she has been incredibly hard to find. And it's possible more changes are coming, because D'Angelo Russell's 39 points, on top of solid play ...
The Lakers Gets Scorched by Suns 127-109, with Bad Games from LeBron, Davis, Reaves.
January 12, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBThe Lakers put two victories together heading into Thursday's nationally televised game against the Suns, but clearly aren't yet "healed" as a group. That became abundantly clear about two minutes into Thursday's game. Phoenix was all over the Lakers early, falling behind only once (7-6) in the entire game. Frankly, the game wasn't as close as the 127-109 score might indicate. The Lakers were sloppy, turning the ball over five times in the first quarter and 18 times overall. The Suns, mean...
Is D'Angelo Russell Sending a Message to the Lakers By Not Speaking to the Media?
January 11, 2024 08:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBFor the past two games, D'Angelo Russell has left Crypto.com Arena without speaking to the media. Sunday against the Clippers, it was after playing pretty well over 31 minutes, and then on Tuesday after another solid showing, but this time in only 17. So what gives? Is Russell expressing displeasure at a role that has fluctuated pretty significantly since he was removed from the starting lineup? Is he trying to avoid conversations about the trade deadline, where his name is, and will remai...
Anthony Davis Dominates Early and Late as the Lakers Beat Raptors, 132-131
January 10, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBIf the Lakers were, say, eight games over .500, Anthony Davis would be squarely in the conversation for league MVP, given how he's played throughout the season on both sides of the ball. Tuesday's 132-131 over the Raptors at the Crypt would be front and center on his resume. 41 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He hit 13 of 14 free throws, including all of them down the stretch. And while Davis only had one block, it came in the final minutes against Toronto forward Scotty Barnes and hel...
Multiple Reports: Darvin Ham Has Jeanie Buss' Support. What Does that Mean Moving Forward?
January 09, 2024 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBDarvin Ham probably wasn't going to be fired if the Lakers lost Sunday, or even if they were blown out in a listless performance that reminded folks of the Miami game. But that type of showing would have cranked up the heat to extremely uncomfortable levels, where decisions can start becoming more self-fulfilling. Critically, though, the baseline for Ham was one in which the organization is not inclined to make a move. Reporting on Monday reinforced that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is fully su...
Lakers Grind Out Critical Win Over Clippers, 106-103. Was Darvin Ham's Job Saved?
January 08, 2024 07:50 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBThe Lakers were at a serious crossroads Sunday night at the Crypt, on a four game losing streak and Darvin Ham squarely in the crosshairs for angry Lakers fans and potentially Lakers management as well. They needed to make a statement, and after a scarily slow start (and with a scary finish) they did, winning 106-103 to quiet the noise... for a night at least. The Lakers welcomed D'Angelo Russell back to the lineup, which provided a boost, giving the Lakers another ballhandler, perimeter pr...
Lakers Collapse in the 4th Quarter, Lose to Memphis 127-113. "We Suck Right Now," Says LeBron James
January 06, 2024 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBComing off a catastrophic performance Wednesday against the Heat at the Crypt, the Lakers needed to make a statement against the Grizzlies Friday, in the second game of this critical homestand. And a statement they made! Just not a good one. LA flipped the script, coming out hot in the first quarter, playing hard, and riding a LeBron James heatwave to build a nine point lead. From there? It was a dogfight, until it wasn't. The Lakers let the lead slip away heading into the half, and couldn...
Report: "Disconnect" Between Darvin Ham, Lakers Players. Has He Lost the Locker Room?
January 05, 2024 08:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThe Lakers played a shameful game Wednesday night, losing at home to a Miami squad that didn't have Jimmy Butler in a game that looked worse than the score. (And the score wasn't good.) They were listless, turnover-happy and wildly out of sorts, the next step in a post-IST progression to really bad basketball. The vibe has clearly been off, based on body language and postgame comments and on-court performance. On Thursday, what was supposition and background chatter was pushed front and cen...
Lakers Lose 110-96 at Home to Heat: Is This Rock Bottom for Darvin Ham's Team?
January 04, 2024 07:59 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThe Lakers opened January with a stretch of 11 games in LA in their first 12, sitting at 17-17 and needing to make some noise. The only noise they made Wednesday against Miami was a sad trombone. Lakers lose 110-96 in a genuinely disgusting performance. Remove Anthony Davis (29/17/6/3/5, as he continues to put up MVP caliber numbers, and Austin Reaves, who at the least was playing hard despite poor outside shooting, and it's hard to find another Laker who distinguished himself. (Christian W...
Has Darvin Ham's Coaching Inexperience Become an Issue? Should Max Christie Start Over Cam Reddish?
January 03, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBThe Lakers are not in a great spot. Not in the standings (10th in West), not in the training room (D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent are all banged up, and even the guys who are playing aren't healthy). But is it time to hit the panic button? Well, this month, and more specifically, the first 12 games of it, are likely to answer this question. The Lakers need to make up some ground in the West, and more importantly, start developing some consistency, over this long stretch of ho...
Is January a Make or Break Month for the Lakers? Is Darvin Ham Overthinking His Rotations?
January 02, 2024 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe Lakers ended 2023 with a whimper. They need to open 2024 with a sustained run of quality play. January presents and interesting opportunity in that regard. The teams they play are challenging, including two games against Clippers, games against Miami, Memphis (much better with Ja Morant), Dallas, Oklahoma City and Phoenix. But 11 of the first 12 games they play this month are at the Crypt. Only once in that stretch do they leave the city (on the road, in Utah). There are no back-to-backs...
The Lakers Lose 129-109 to Pelicans, Rui Hachimura Leaves Early With a Calf Injury
January 01, 2024 04:50 - 34 minutes - 32 MBThe Lakers arrived in New Orleans at 3:30 am Sunday morning, and were missing Cam Reddish (groin) and D'Angelo Russell (bruised tailbone), finishing out a long stretch of road play with tons of back-to-backs. In theory, nothing had to give. And it didn't. The Lakers took one on the chin, losing to the Pelicans 129-109 Sunday night, to limp into the new year at a very mediocre 17-17. Better than last year, but on the other hand the Western Conference is also further ahead of where it was la...
Lakers Suffer Controversial 108-106 Loss to Minnesota, Did Refs Make Wrong Call on LeBron Three-Pointer?
December 31, 2023 05:28 - 19 minutes - 18 MBIt came down to millimeters. Did LeBron James's shoe graze the edge of the 3-point line in a shot that would have tied the game, but instead left the Lakers down one? Or was it a clean 3? LeBron certainly thought it was the latter, and so did Darvin Ham. They're not the most impartial judges, no question, but in the end the result was a 108-106 loss to the Wolves. The Lakers just couldn't generate enough offense outside of their stars to overcome the West's best team on their home floor, bu...
Lakers Get 133-112 win over Hornets, Anthony Davis and LeBron James Get Needed Rest
December 29, 2023 08:00 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBThe Lakers have been struggling a ton since the IST, and needed a palate cleanser. To say the least, Thursday's visitors to the Crypt, the Charlotte Hornets, offered the best opportunity for that if the team could take advantage. And after a slow first half, the Lakers managed to do just that. Lakers win 133-112, in a game that managed to get a little closer in garbage time. Good performances across the board for the Lakers, but perhaps the nicest stat? Anthony Davis and LeBron James didn'...
Can More Practice Fix the New Lakers Starting Lineup? Plus, Should they have Drafted Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
December 28, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBThe Lakers got a rare day of practice on Wednesday, and Darvin Ham certainly hopes that it could help iron out some of the rough spots the new starting lineup has experienced in the two games in which it has been deployed. Not surprisingly, he was asked a lot about the lineup meeting the media. “I think the pros is the size, the athleticism, the ability to switch across the board. I think the cons are just different actions, not having a traditional point guard can be challenging at times,"...
How Gabe Vincent's Surgery Impacts Lakers, Now and At Trade Deadline. (Plus, Dejounte Murray Rumors!)
December 27, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBThe Lakers on announced on Christmas that Gabe Vincent would miss the next 6-8 weeks (for starters) because that problematic left knee will require surgery. That's going to have a big impact on the Lakers, who lose the optionality of a defensive-oriented guard in the rotation, one who is more impactful at the point of attack than Austin Reaves or D'Angelo Russell. It limits Ham's options with ball handlers and ball movers, which crimps the range of rotations he can deploy. And just as impor...
Lakers Lose to Celtics on Christmas, 126-115. Is New Starting Lineup the Problem?
December 26, 2023 07:22 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThe Lakers hoped to translate a great win on Saturday in Oklahoma City into success on Christmas at home against the Celtics. It didn't happen. The Lakers—you may have heard this before—got off to a very slow start, as the new starting lineup debuted against the Thunder could neither buy a bucket nor prevent one. That's not a good formula against one of the elite teams in the NBA. The Lakers would eventually get their act together, dominating the second quarter, before slowly losing contro...
Lakers Get 129-120 Win Over Thunder, fueled by LeBron, Anthony Davis, New Starting Lineup
December 24, 2023 05:23 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBHeading into Oklahoma City, Anthony Davis called this game against the Thunder "must-win," which may have raised eyebrows for a December contest, but considering they had lost five of the previous six, and had already pulled themselves out of a sub .500 state earlier this season, the urgency was in fact warranted. So much so, in fact, that Darvin Ham opted to change the starting lineup again. Defensive specialist Jarred Vanderbilt joined the first five, while D'Angelo Russell moved to the be...
Without LeBron James, the Lakers Play Timberwolves Tough, But Lose 118-111.
December 22, 2023 07:12 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBWith a full squad, coming in healthy, the Lakers still could have lost to Minnesota Thursday night. The Wolves are the top team in the Western Conference, and have only lost one time at home. The Lakers, though, aren't fully healthy. LeBron James and Gabe Vincent both missed Thursday's game with what likely amount to maintenance injuries as much as anything. Jarred Vanderbilt is still banged up, and Rui Hachimura still has to dress like Batman to get on the floor. But with all of that, or ...
The Lakers Lose Big to Bulls, 124-108. D'Angelo Russell Struggling, Team Energy Lacking
December 21, 2023 06:21 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBWednesday's game to kick off the road trip was supposed to be the "easy" one for the Lakers. A sub-.500 Bulls team in Chicago. Well, maybe it will be the easiest, but it still didn't go well for the Lakers. They lose 124-108, and are completely out of sorts on both sides of the ball. Wednesday, they came out of the gate with energy—LeBron James was very aggressive from the jump—but as Chicago made shots, the Lakers couldn't respond. And then once again, they found themselves down big, and p...
Gabe Vincent Expected to Return vs. Bulls. And is it Time for the Lakers to Start Reaves, Bench Russell?
December 20, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.2 MBWhen the Lakers were 3-5 and set to play the Suns, they seemed to be at an inflection point in the season, where another loss could send things in a tough direction. They responded with a healthy string of wins running through the In-Season Tournament championship. Tonight, their record is better (15-12), but with the Western Conference taking form (a very challenging form) the team is at a similar crossroads, starting tonight in Chicago against a sub-.500 Bulls team. Because after this on...
The Lakers Lose to the Knicks, 114-109. Is LeBron Fatigued Following In-Season Tournament?
December 19, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBThe Knicks came to the Crypt on Monday, with tricky players to guard in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. They're a playoff caliber team. They play hard, especially in front of Spike Lee. But given the schedule the Lakers are facing, this was one they needed to win. And as it was early in the season, they fell behind, fought back, and couldn't maintain momentum. End result? A 114-109 loss. Anthony Davis did his job, and Austin Reaves continues to play well (though Reaves was not terribly ef...
Monday vs. Knicks Begins Critical, Difficult Stretch for Lakers. Plus, Is Backup Center a Problem?
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThe Lakers are 15-11. That's the good news. The bad? That record is only good enough for 8th in the Western Conference, and after a 1-2 trip through Texas, which included one game in Dallas against a Kyrie Irving-less Mavs team, then consecutive games in San Antonio, the Lakers now have a very difficult stretch of schedule in front of them. Four of their next five games are against teams above .500, including two against Minnesota and Oklahoma City, the top two teams in the Western Conferen...
Without Davis, Russell, Reddish, shorthanded Lakers Lose Big (129-115) to the Spurs.
December 16, 2023 04:39 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBIt was the second go-around between the Lakers and Spurs in San Antonio, along with a second radically different look for the purple and gold. LeBron James returned from his absence Wednesday, but Anthony Davis (groin), D'Angelo Russell (non-COVID illness) and Cam Reddish (knee) all missed the contest, rendering the Lakers an entirely more hapless group from jump street, where they fell down 20 points after the first quarter. There were a few pushes, including a second quarter rally cutting...
Should Darvin Ham Give More Minutes to Rui Hachimura? Plus, Lakers-Spurs, Round 2!
December 15, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBSo the Lakers, hopefully with LeBron James in the lineup, once again are in San Antonio to play the Spurs, the back end of a rare road-road series with the same team. Whether James plays or not (and the Lakers will certainly be cautious with him, because he's LeBron and the Spurs have lost 18 games in a row) the big question is whether the Lakers will have learned anything from Wednesday's win. Because Wednesday's win was as annoying as any the Lakers have had in a while. Allowing an 18 poi...
Anthony Davis Scores 37, but Lakers Still Nearly Blow 122-119 win vs. Spurs. Wembanyama Impresses.
December 14, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThat was way harder than it needed to be. With no LeBron James (nursing a calf injury on the second night of a back-to-back) the Lakers nonetheless controlled about 44 of the 48 minutes against the Spurs in San Antonio, leading by eight after the first quarter, 13 at the half, and 18 at the end of the third. They led by double digits throughout most of the fourth quarter, and by 10 with two minutes to play. And then it got uncomfortable. Bad shot selection, a couple ugly turnovers, and al...
Lakers Sloppy Early, Lose 127-125 to Mavericks, Despite Big Game from Anthony Davis
December 13, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThe Lakers recent run of high end play has been defined by defensive integrity and solid execution. In Dallas on Tuesday, the Lakers were short on both, particularly early. LA was sloppy with the ball, turning the ball over far too frequently early. They missed a ton of layups. And they didn't execute on the defensive side with the same level of precision as they had in recent games against Indiana, New Orleans and Phoenix. Some of that could be due to the absence of Jared Vanderbilt, who m...
Lakers to Hang In-Season Tournament Championship Banner. Plus, Gabe Vincent Close to Returning?
December 12, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBMany Lakers fans didn't think it would happen, many didn't want it to happen, but on Monday the announcement was made: There will be a banner raised at the Crypt to commemorate the team's championship in the NBA's first In-Season Tournament. It won't look like the other title banners. Different shape, different color, and unlike other title banners the Lakers will add to it with future IST wins. (Think of how high schools often commemorate state titles.) The reaction, at least on social med...
The In-Season Tournament Featured Elite Lakers Defense? Is This Sustainable? Plus, Bronny's Debut!
December 11, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBNobody is really sure what exactly comes next for the Lakers following their victory in the inaugural In-Season Tournament final. Will they carry the momentum over the final 59 regular season games? Did they discover a blueprint for something that will be instructive in the spring? Will everyone kind of forget all about it in three weeks? Not sure, but for now, one thing is abundantly clear: The Lakers showed themselves capable of playing championship caliber defense over the course of the ...
Lakers Beat Indiana, Win Inaugural In-Season Tournament Behind 41/20/5 +4 Blocks from Anthony Davis
December 10, 2023 06:10 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBThe Lakers came into Saturday's final of the In-Season Tournament not only having shown they 100% care, but 100% find the value in the process of trying to win. And that, more than anything, is what stuck out in LA's 123-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. There was the level of intensity, not surprising given how much effort has already gone into this thing, and also the clear desire on Indiana's part to show out. But they also played a playoff rotation in this game. Not just a playoff rotati...
LeBron James, Lakers Destroy Pelicans 133-89, Headed to Finals of the In-Season Tournament.
December 08, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBWhatever this In-Season Tournament means for NBA culture, big picture, remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: It's brought out the best in the Lakers, who remain undefeated in this new format, and it's REALLY brought out the best in LeBron James, who you're darn right wants to win the whole enchilada. They'll play the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, thanks to a 133-89 blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Believe it or not, the game actually began tight, with the Lakers actually dow...
LeBron, Davis, Zion, Ingram: Previewing Lakers vs. Pelicans For In-Season Tournament Semi-Finals
December 07, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThe Lakers will face the Pelicans tonight in Las Vegas, the semi-final game of the In-Season Tournament. It's going to be an event, maybe one people didn't see coming but an event nonetheless, and a game that sneaky intriguing given the pretty decent performance to this point from Willie Green's bunch in New Orleans, who are above water despite having critical players like Trey Murphy III and CJ McCollum miss huge chunks of time. Like the Lakers, the Pelicans have been playing the "when we'...
LeBron, Lakers Defense Anchor 106-103 Win Over Suns, Reach In-Season Tournament Semi-Finals
December 06, 2023 07:41 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBThe Lakers, playing in their first ever In-Season Tournament quarterfinal, had a lot to think about Tuesday at the Crypt. There's the chance to punch a ticket to Vegas and a semi-final matchup against the Pelicans - something guys are a lot more into than most fans/media anticipated. There was the significance of a LeBron James/Kevin Durant matchup on national TV, something we haven't had nearly enough of over the last few years, and something that definitionally can't happen that much longe...
Lakers vs. Suns, In-Season Tournament Preview: Can LA Go to Vegas and "Get the Whole Bag?"
December 05, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBLakers vs. Suns is probably the marquee game of the In Season Tournament quarterfinals, with both teams looking to punch their tickets to Las Vegas. At the beginning of the season, the idea that any of that would be meaningful, from a big time game in the tourney quarterfinals, to two teams with Larry O'Brien type championship aspirations would care about advancing seemed naive. But now? It's exactly what's happening, because the level of interest and enthusiasm for this inaugural event has...
What Will the Lakers Rotation Look like With Reddish, Vanderbilt, Hachimura (Soon) Back Again?
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBSaturday, the expectation was that both Rui Hachimura and Jared Vanderbilt would be in the lineup to face the Rockets at the Crypt. Turns out, only Vando returned and we'll all have to wait until Tuesday to see Rob Pelinka's vision as whole as it probably will be for the time being (because Gabe Vincent... we're not talking about him right now...) So with Hachimura, Vanderbilt and Cam Reddish, along with a more-productive-than-anticipated Cam Reddish, plus an increasingly confident Max Chri...
The Lakers Get Healthy, Punish the Rockets 107-97 Behind 27 Points, 5 Blocks from Anthony Davis
December 03, 2023 06:36 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBFor a couple minutes on Saturday, the Lakers looked like they could be in a spot of trouble against the visiting Houston Rockets. The visitors were red hot early and the Lakers couldn't throw a ball into the ocean off the side of a boat. But then the Rockets cooled off, and the Lakers used a spectacular 35-14 second quarter to take control of the game and they never gave it back. And on a night where the Lakers got some reinforcements (Rui Hachimura was said to be available, but ultimately ...
Despite Anthony Davis' Big Night, Lakers Lose 133-110 to Thunder, Finish Road Trip 2-2.
December 01, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThe Lakers were down Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish (in a mild and somewhat concerning surprise, given that he was in the lineup Wednesday in Detroit), Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura Thursday in Oklahoma City. There were on the second night of a back-to-back. They've played a bunch of games of late, with a schedule that has been pretty unrelenting. So on the one hand, sure, they lost. Of course they did. And Anthony Davis showed up, no question. 31/14/2 with two steals. He hit ...
Laker Blow Out Pistons 133-107, but Face Huge Challenge Tonight Against OKC Thunder.
November 30, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBThe Lakers got many things they needed during Wednesday's 133-107 win in Detroit over the hapless Pistons. Big nights from Anthony Davis (28 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks) and D'Angelo Russell (35 points, nine assists). Solid supporting work from LeBron James (28 points, 8 rebounds). The return of Cam Reddish from a groin injury. Outside shots falling from Taurean Prince. Plus, they exercised the demons from a 44 point loss in Philly, where their butts were absolutely handed to them. Bea...
Why Tonight's Pistons Game Is Critical for the Lakers. Plus, LeBron Wants Changes. Here's One Idea.
November 29, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThe Lakers took one on the chin in Philadelphia on Monday, suffering one of the worst losses in team history, and the worst in LeBron's storied career. (44 points!) It was enough to have James talking about "a lot" needing to change going forward. What that means? Hard to say. Was he talking about mechanics on the court? Team culture? Coaching strategies? Just saying that literally when you lose by 44, by definition a lot has to change? The Lakers, though, have a golden opportunity to reset...
Lakers Lose By 44 to Sixers, An Angry LeBron Says "A Lot" Must Change Going Forward
November 28, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBLeBron James became the NBA's all time leader in minutes played on Monday in Philadelphia, combining regular season and postseason floor time. Never in those 66K+ minutes has LeBron had 48 where he lost by more than the 44 points the Lakers lost by to the Sixers. It was, by amount, the fourth largest loss margin the franchise has ever suffered. And again, the franchise has played many, many games of basketball over the decades. It was, in short, a monumental disaster, on the heels of argua...
Anthony Davis vs. Joel Embiid: Who Wins Monday's Matchup of Elite Centers?
November 27, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThe Lakers are in Philadelphia Monday, facing a Sixers team with the reigning MVP who is playing at a similar level this year, in Joel Embiid. It will be, as it always is when Anthony Davis faces off against other elite, MVP-level players, a measuring game for Davis. The scrutiny is always going to be there, because the perception (and, frankly, the reality) is that for whatever reason—sometimes his fault, sometimes not—Davis simply has too many games where you can't feel his impact. Even w...
Bonus Episode: LeBron Struggles, but Anthony Davis Fuels Big 121-115 Win Over Cavaliers
November 26, 2023 04:49 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBThe Lakers kicked off a challenging road trip on Saturday in Cleveland, and wouldn't you know it? The Cavs got healthy just in time for LA's arrival. This is a good team when everyone's available, ramping up the degree of difficulty. Especially given that the team was missing Jared Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Cam Reddish. And the Lakers responded well, even on a night when LeBron James wasn't sharp. 22 points, but on 8-23 shooting, including 1-9 from the 3-point line. So in...
Lakers Lose to Mavericks 104-101 After Late Mistakes Doom 4th Quarter Comeback
November 23, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThe Lakers had an opportunity to give themselves something to be thankful for today, but in the end... no. They lose to the Mavericks at the Crypt, 104-101. After entering the fourth quarter down 20, the Lakers shut down the Mavericks offense almost completely, managing not only to eat up the deficit but actually take a lead with a little more than a minute to play. At that point, though, it wasn't a comeback that fell short, it was a lead that they lost down the stretch. And it was thanks ...
The Lakers Rout Jazz 131-99, Win Group A for In-Season Tournament... But Cam Reddish Injured
November 22, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBWhether because the Lakers get up for the new in-season tourney or because the Lakers, as it turned out, had a pretty fortunate draw in Group A (Memphis, Portland and Utah are somewhere between bad and terrible, depending on your POV) or a little bit of both, it's hard to argue the results. Tuesday, the Lakers led wire-to-wire, routing the Jazz at the Crypt, 131-99. The Lakers win Group A (4-0) and now have run their record to 9-6 overall, and took full advantage of a soft spot in their sc...
How Worried Should the Lakers Be About LeBron's Minutes? Time to Move Taurean Prince to the Bench?
November 21, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBOn the one hand, it's been incredibly fun to watch LeBron James put up the numbers he has over the last couple of weeks. The production has been impressive for any NBA player, before you get into the context of a (more or less) 39-year old in his 21st season. Once you factor that in? Wow. But at the same time, as many viewers on the YouTube channel have noted, there's a price to be paid for this type of effort, when it comes to James, and generally that price has been... well, James himsel...
Superstar Performances from LeBron James, Anthony Davis Lead the Lakers Past Rockets, 105-104
November 20, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBThe Lakers haven't had many wins over teams playing good basketball, so Sunday's game against the Rockets was a big opportunity to get some momentum because Houston has defied early predictions and been very, very competitive. And that's what makes LA's 105-104 win at the Crypt a satisfying one. It's easily one of the better performances of the 14 games the team has now played. And it was fueled through two big performances from the team's stars. Anthony Davis put up 27/10 on 11-15 from the...
LeBron James (35/5/9) Pushes the Lakers Past Portland Trail Blazers, 107-95
November 18, 2023 06:44 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBThe Lakers got off to a rare great start in the first quarter of their 107-95 win over the Trail Blazers in Portland Friday. Nice to see, but it opened the door for a different trend that was a problem for LA—letting leads get away. For most of the game, LA would push the lead out, but rather than putting Portland away, they'd let them back in. This until the fourth quarter, when they were able to build a double-digit lead and keep it there. So there's that. On the positive side, LeBron Ja...
Does NBA Media Avoid Criticizing Austin Reaves? Should Darvin Ham Give Rui Hachimura More Minutes?
November 17, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThe Locked On Lakers YouTube page is a great place to communicate with other Lakers fans and the hosts of the show, and it was the source of today's discussion. Does the media protect Austin Reaves? More than a few viewers have noted the difference in how he's treated compared to, say, D'Angelo Russell, believing that Reaves doesn't get enough criticism when he underperforms, whether on this show or across the basketball media landscape more broadly. Is that true? Probably, at least to som...
Sloppy Lakers Lose 125-110 to Kings, Anthony Davis Has Worst Game Since Season Opener
November 16, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBThe three game win streak is over, and in relatively embarrassing fashion. The Lakers lost to the Kings Wednesday night at the Crypt by 15 in a game that wasn't that close, really. Final score, 125-110, as the Lakers fell back into all the habits fans hoped they had dropped in Tuesday's win. Bad first quarter putting themselves deep in a hole? Check. Too many turnovers? Cheeeeeeeeck, check, check. 23 in total. So much check. Problems on the defensive glass? Check. But one thing they thou...